FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Champions crowned at US 13 Dragway

DELMAR, Del. - Michele Costa of Freehold, N.J. made the most of two long days of racing at US 13 Dragway, taking the win in Comp Eliminator at this weekend's NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Costa ran a 9.066 second pass at 143.28 mph to beat Tony Stephenson with a 7.899, 169.97 mph pass.

Super Stock racer Walter MacMath joined Costa in the winner's circle with his '84 Camaro and a run of 10.782 seconds, 118.31 mph over Lee Zane with a 10.828 at 123.83 mph lap.

Ken Bowers of Islip, N.Y. knocked out Earl Nichols Jr. in Super Gas with a run of 9.914 seconds at 160.08 mph. Bowers was fifth in the NHRA Northeast Division points coming into this weekend's event.

New Jersey residents Jack Schmutz and Tom Dauber took the wins Stock and Super Comp respectively. Schmutz, driving a '79 Malibu, beat out Shane Carr with a run of 14.925 seconds at 86.36 mph while Dauber won over Marc Combs when Combs left early with a red light.

In Super Street, it was Mike Larkin of Fruitland, Md., with the win over Carl Juliano. Larkin drove his '78 Camaro to a 10.888 second, 134.52 mph pass.

The NHRA Northeast Division racers head to Numidia Raceway for the next NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event, July 30-August 1.

The following are the final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at US 13 Dragway:

COMP ELIMINATOR
Michele Costa, Freehold, N.J., dragster, G/D, 9.066, 143.28  def. 
Tony Stephenson, Willow Spring, N.C., '02 Cavalier, E/AA, 7.899, 169.97.

SUPER STOCK
Walter MacMath, Langhorne, Pa., '84 Camaro, GT/JA, 10.782, 118.31  def. 
Lee Zane, Pittsgrove, N.J., '99 S-10, SS/TD, 10.828, 123.83.

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Jack Schmutz, Pompton Plains, N.J., '79 Malibu, V/SA, 14.925, 86.36  def. 
Shane Carr, Williamstown, N.J., '94 Camaro, B/FIA, 10.879, 105.90.

SUPER COMP
Tom Dauber, Clarksburg, N.J., dragster, 19.531, 42.77  def. 
Marc Combs, New Windsor, Md., dragster, foul.

SUPER GAS
Ken Bowers, Islip, N.Y., '88 T-Bird, 9.914, 160.08  def. 
Earl Nichols Jr, Wilmington, Del., '82 Corvette, 9.870, 154.50.

SUPER STREET
Mike Larkin, Fruitland, Md., '78 Camaro, 10.888, 134.52  def. 
Carl Juliano, Fresh Meadows, N.Y.,'71 Nova, 10.874, 136.38.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Harris, Grove, and Boudreau on top at US 13 Dragway

DELMAR, Del. - In the first rounds of qualifying at the Delaware 1st State Championships, Doug Harris leads the Comp Eliminator field in his '03 S-10 with a lap of 7.740 seconds, 0.530 seconds under the index. Tony Stephenson of Willow Spring, N.C. sits in second at 7.929, 0.521 under.

Harris is joined by Scott Grove who put his '93 Daytona out front in the Super Stock class covering the US 13 Dragway quarter mile in 8.414 seconds. Grove is followed by Tim Worner of Duncannon, Pa., in second in his '88 Cutlass.

Stock Eliminator driver Jim Boudreau is on top with a pass of 10.540 in his '69 Camaro with Bay Shore, N.Y., resident Gary Richard in second with a run of 10.547 seconds, 1.153 under the index.

In a special exhibition elimination session of Supercharged Warriors, it was John DeCort of Salem, Ohio defeating Dave Covell also of Ohio.

Special action Saturday night includes Nostalgia Top Fuel and Alcohol exhibition runs beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Racing continues Saturday at 10 a.m. Gates open at 8 a.m. Tickets are $12 and $6 for a pit pass. For more information, call US 13 Dragway at (302)846-4968.

The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at US 13 Dragway:

COMP ELIMINATOR
1) Douglas Harris, Millville, N.J., '03 S-10, PSTA, 7.740 seconds, -0.530 (under index)
2) Tony Stephenson, Willow Spring, N.C., '02 Cavalier, E/AA, 7.929, -0.521
3) Don Eckel III, Piscataway, N.J., dragster, C/D, 7.121, -0.489
4) Charlie Yannetti, Alpine, N.J., '32 Bantam, L/AA, 9.287, -0.483
5) George Supinski Jr., Freehold, N.J., '02 S-10, B/T, 8.244, -0.466
6) Gerry Russo, Saddle River, N.J., '03 Grand Am, G/SMA, 9.164, -0.446
7) Pat Ross, Avon Lake, Ohio, '04 Grand Am, F/A, 8.377, -0.403
8) Erich Bollman, Newark, Del., '92 Probe GT, G/A, 8.713, -0.357
9) John Mahoney, N Providence, R.I., '00 Camaro, C/A, 7.691, -0.309
10) Dennis Bartucci, Boothwyn, Pa., '94 Lumina, B/AA, 7.677, -0.123

SUPER STOCK
1) Scott Gove, Dennysville, Maine, '93 Daytona, SS/AM, 8.414 seconds, -1.136 (under index)
2) Ray Scardelli, Manalapan, N.J., '97 Probe, GT/H, 10.060, -1.090
3) Tim Worner, Duncannon, Pa., '88 Cutlass, GT/KA, 10.664, -1.086
4) Michael Volkman, Moon, Pa., '00 Sebring, GT/HA, 10.315, -1.035
5) David Barton, Robesonia, Pa., '68 Dart, SS/AA, 8.873, -1.027
6) Gary Ewing, Bel Air, Md., '69 Camaro, SS/IA, 9.977, -1.023
7) Brian Oakes, De Bary, Fla., '69 Camaro, SS/DA, 9.490, -1.010
8) Howard Barsky, Levittown, Pa., '57 Chevy, SS/NA, 11.456, -0.994
9) Frank Lupo, North East, Md., '85 Camaro, SS/KA, 10.581, -0.969
10) Leon Miranian, Davidsonville, Md., '68 Corvette, SS/EA, 9.690, -0.960

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1) Jim Boudreau, Tewksbury, Mass., '69 Camaro, C/SA, 10.540 seconds, -1.160 (under index)
2) Gary Richard, Bay Shore, N.Y., '69 Camaro, C/SA, 10.547, -1.153
3) Tex Miller, Fayetteville, Pa., '72 Mustang, G/SA, 11.193, -1.107
4) Tim Bishop, Queenstown, Md., '97 Firehawk, B/FI, 10.606, -1.044
5) Jim Klacik, Aliquippa, Pa., '88 Mustang, G/FIA, 12.127, -1.023
6) Emory Stull Jr., Woodbine, Md., '98 Firebird, C/FIA, 10.996, -1.004
7) Evan Smith, Matawan, N.J., '93 Mustang, E/FI, 11.498, -1.002
8) Mark Dickerson, Baltimore, Md., '70 Duster, F/SA, 11.153, -0.997
9) Wendy Caliendo, Colts Neck, N.J., '98 Firebird, E/SA, 11.013, -0.987
10) Bob Horgan, Tyngsboro, Mass., '85 Camaro, I/SA, 11.617, -0.983

Schedule change for event announced

Due to the Sunday's forecast of steady rain all day long, there has been a change to the schedule for this weekend's Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Event at US 13 Dragway. Friday and Saturday forecasts are excellent and Friday's activities will remain as scheduled.

Saturday's schedule has been moved up with gates opening at 8 a.m. Time runs will begin at 10 am. Two sessions for each class are on the schedule for Saturday. Following those two runs, eliminations will begin and run until completed on Saturday. The curfew on Saturday night is 1 a.m. so there should be enough time. With these changes, everyone should get their allotment of runs and eliminations will be completed Saturday night. The weather as of Friday morning is beautiful, clear, dry and very pleasant, so come on down and enjoy this event!

All show/exhibition cars will run on both Friday and Saturday as scheduled.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NHRA Northeast Division Lucas Oil racers meet at U.S. 13 Dragway

DELMAR, Del. - U.S. 13 Dragway will host the Delaware 1st State Championships, a round of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, July 16-18. The race is the third of seven in NHRA Northeast division competition where more than 400 drivers in six categories earn points toward divisional and national titles and a share of the champions' year-end bonus fund, worth more than $560,000. In all, $6.5 million is posted for the 46-event series in 2004.

Classes that will run are Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street. Friday's action will also include the Supercharged Warriors and Bad 8 Street Tire qualifying & eliminations, while nostalgia Top Fuel, and Pro-Mod cars will be featured Saturday. Sunday's racing will be devoted the highly competitive Lucas Oil Series campaigners as they try to set themselves up for big year-end awards, part of the $6.5 million posted for the series in 2004.

Sal Biondo, from Maspeth, N.Y., is the defending Comp Eliminator Champion for the event at U.S. 13. He went out in round one of eliminations at the 2004 Northeast Division opener in Maple Grove Raceway, so he will be hoping to handle the large field that figures to contend at Delmar. Out-of-division racers Terry Smith of West Virginia and Kevin Houghtaling of Virginia invaded Maple Grove and went to the final with Smith prevailing. Biondo and the Northeast Division racers won't want that to happen again.

Also featured at the event will be nearly 100 wheel-standing factory machines in NHRA's Super Stock and Stock Eliminator categories.

Besides the Northeast Division action in Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street, this year's event will feature an exhibition of front-engine, nitro-methane burning Top Fuel dragsters capable of low five-second and 250 mph performance, along with some wild Pro Modified entries, full-bodied cars running supercharged and nitrous-oxide assisted motors. These cars will be featured on Saturday, July 17, beginning at 7:30 p.m., along with qualifying and eliminations for the Street Car Shootout, showcasing the fastest street driven equipment in the business.

Things get underway on Friday, July 16, when qualifying will begin for the NHRA Northeast Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series as the best sportsman drivers in the division vie for positions in the fields that will compete in Sunday's final eliminations. Then, on Friday evening at 6 p.m., the Supercharged Warriors will take to the track along with the Bad 8 open wheel and full-bodied action.

Gates at U.S. 13 Dragway open at 10 a.m. Friday. Qualifying and time trials for Lucas Series racers start at 3 p.m. with the Super Charged Warriors and Bad 8 Street Tire qualifying and eliminations slated for 6-10 p.m. Saturday, gates open at 10 a.m. and qualifying and time trials will continue at noon. The Top Fuel match and Pro-Mod cars will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Eliminations begin Sunday at noon. Gates at U.S. 13 Dragway open at 9 a.m. General admission tickets at U.S. 13 Dragway are $12 each day with a $6 pit pass also available on each day. Children 13 and under are admitted free with a paid adult.

U.S. 13 Dragway is located on US Highway 13, just a half-mile north of the Delaware/Maryland state line. For more information call U.S. 13 Dragway, (302) 846-3968.

The next Northeast Division NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event is scheduled for Numidia Raceway, July 30-Aug. 1.

NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES: Fact Sheet
WHAT: The Delaware 1st State Championships, featuring the NHRA Northeast Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, where drivers earn points leading to divisional and national championships. Six NHRA Lucas Oil Series categories will compete at U.S. 13 Dragway. Categories include, Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The event is the third of seven in NHRA Northeast Division competition. Also featured: Super Charged Warriors, Pro Mods, Street Car Shootout and a Nostalgia Top Fuel and Alcohol exhibition runs.

WHERE: US 13 Dragway, Delmar, Del. Track is located on U.S. Highway 13, just a half- mile north of the Delaware-Maryland state line.

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, July 16-18, 2004

SCHEDULE: Time trials and qualifying schedule for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series:

FRIDAY, July 16 -- Gates open at 10 a.m. Qualifying and time trials begin at 3 p.m. Comp Eliminator qualifying at 8 p.m. Super Charged Warriors/Bad 8 Open Wheel & Full Bodied qualifying & eliminations 6-10 p.m.

SATURDAY, July 17 -- Gates open at 10 a.m. Final qualifying and time trials are scheduled to begin at noon. Comp Eliminator qualifying 3 and 5 p.m. Pro Mods and Street Car Shootout qualifying and eliminations, 6 p.m., Comp Eliminator Round 1, 6:45 p.m. Nostalgia Top Fuel and Alcohol exhibition, 7:30-9:45 p.m.

SUNDAY, July 18 -- Gates open at 10 a.m. Eliminations begin at noon. Comp Eliminator Round 2, 12:30 p.m.

TICKETS: GENERAL ADMISSION/PIT PASS -- $12 all three days. Pits pass $6 each day. Children 13 and under FREE with paid adult. For more information please call U.S. 13 Dragway (302) 846-3968 or visit www.delawareracing.com

PURSE: The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competitors will vie for cash and contingency awards of $160,360, part of the 46-race, $6.5 million series.

2003 EVENT WINNERS: Fran Monaghan, Top Alcohol Dragster; Frank Manzo, Top Alcohol Funny Car; Sal Biondo, Comp Eliminator; David Barton, Super Stock; Bill Nees Jr., Stock Eliminator; John Martin , Super Comp; Raymond Sawyer, Super Gas; Martin Ganjoin Jr., Super Street

BONUS PROGRAMS:
NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES POINTS FUND -- a $561,000 point fund from Lucas Oil, which will be shared by 2004 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional champions and national champions. Divisional awards include $8,500 each to the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car champions; $3,000 to the champions in both Competition and Super Stock; $2,000 each to the champions in Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The seven national champions will share a bonus of $135,000.

SEALED POWER LOW QUALIFIER BONUS -- a $109,000 overall bonus fund from Federal-Mogul's Sealed Power brand to the low qualifiers at each of the 46 Lucas Oil events: $1,000 each in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car; $200 each in Comp Eliminator and Super Stock; and $100 in Stock. (TAD and TAFC compete at 43 of 46 divisional events.)

JEG'S ALLSTARS: The best of the best from each of NHRA's seven divisions will compete for a share of the $100,000 point fund from Jeg's High Performance. The 2004 Jeg's Allstars event will culminate a year-long points battle between drivers in each of NHRA's Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series' eight classes. The top points earner in each category will qualify to represent his/her division at the 2004 Jeg's Allstars. Points are based on in-division races only.

The winning division's team will share $20,000 and individual awards include $7,000 each to the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car champions, $6,000 to champions in Comp Eliminator and Super Stock, and $4,500 to the Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street champions. Runners-up in all categories will earn $2,000 apiece. Each Allstars competitor will also receive a share of a $20,000 towing fund to get to the event.

This year, event sponsor, Jeg's High Performance, has offered a "double up" bonus to Allstars competitors. Winners in each individual class who go on to win the national event will have their Allstars prize money doubled.

FEATURES: More than 400 drivers in the six NHRA Lucas Oil Racing categories, plus Pro Mod, Super charged Outlaws, Bad 8 Open Wheel and Full Bodied, and nostalgia Top Fuel and alcohol car exhibition runs.